POISON OF SOME INDIAN VENOMOUS SNAKES 85 



3.32. Breathing is getting deep and slow, and the head is 

 extended at each inspiration. There is still motion of the 

 head when the ears or mouth are tickled. A minute or two 

 ago it got up, stood for a second or two, and then fell. 

 Kespiration gradually ceased. A cannula was placed in the 

 trachea, and artificial respiration kept up. The heart ceased to 

 beat very shortly after. Electrodes were placed in the cord 

 opposite the seventh and twelfth dorsal vertebra. A Faradic 

 current passed through them caused contractions in the 

 adjoining muscles of the back, but none elsewhere. The left 

 sciatic was exposed and irritated. The limb contracted. 

 About an hour afterwards curious and somewhat rhythmical 

 movements took place in the right foot. The sciatic had not 

 been exposed in the right leg. 



Experiment LIX. 



July 25 tb. — At 3.34 a little cobra-poison was injected into 

 the peritoneum of a guinea-pig. Immediately afterwards the 

 animal became restless and uneasy. 



3.38. The animal is quiet. Occasional lifting of head. The 

 fore legs are spreading out laterally. When made to walk it 

 staggers, and has difficulty in maintaining its balance. It 

 rises up and runs when any sound is made. Eespirations 

 68 per minute. 



3.44. Tlie left ear is drooping. 



3.58. Passed milky urine. 



4.4. Convulsive motions occur, but the animal can still run. 

 Almost immediately after, when laid on its side, it could not 

 get up. 



4.7. The cornea is now insensible. A cannula placed in the 

 trachea and artificial respiration commenced. 



4.15. A needle placed in heart. Pulsations quick. The 

 artificial respiration was discontinued. The pulsations became 

 quicker. 



In this experiment the paralysis began in the fore legs. 

 There was distinct loss of co-ordination ; but the animal could 

 run up to the last, although it could not walk. This indicates 

 that the higher co-ordinating centre (probably the cerebellum) 



